Al-Khawaja started his hunger strike in protest against the "Jaw Central Prison" administration's treatment of detainees, and in light of the worsening security and political situation in the country.

Al-Khawaja's daughter, Maryam al-Khawaja posted on her twitter account that her dad is suffering lower back pain because of his kidney. She also noted that he is suffering cramps in his muscles, while his tests showed low blood pressure as his weight dropped excessively to only 56 kg.

Maryam al-Khawaja said in her twitter post "Since the beginning of his hunger strike, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja has been allowed to see doctors without shackles".

She also noted that he refused to be transferred to the military hospital, for fear of being forcibly fed, like what happened during his 2012 hunger strike.